A Clean up Crew list with the perks.

[basile]

Well today i've research my list of CUC i'm going to put in those tanks and why, what do they do and if compatible with not only each other but with my goals and the technology i've got . Plus if they fit with the enviroment, corals and macroalgae, for example, i've put 4 trochus snail in my little seeding fuge and they ate half my macro's , so ya , we learn don't we. So knowing what they eat and finding out who they don't like is kina important. I knew that but a refresher was good. Plus i came to learn a few things with this refresher course and came to some conclusions that i'll put into practice and test those assumptions of mine.


















So anyway here's the population tanks list;

Species Name: Astraea tectum


Authority: (Lightfoot, 1786)


Common Name: American Star-Shell/Astraea Snail


Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Florida, Caribbean


Natural Environment: Inhabits grass beds, mid-intertidal zones and rocks on upper reef areas


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 72 to 79°F (26.11°C) (22 - 26°C). Smaller than the turbo/turban species, and much more long lasting in aquaria. They are excellent algae grazers, especially brown diatom algae. Because of their small size, about 1 inch (2.5 cm), they are less apt to knock things over. Yet, more is needed, with one per three gallons my recommendation. Much more hardy then the turban species. Similar in appearance to other Astraea species.


Potential Controller Of:
Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating
Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Padina pavonica
Padina australis
Padina species
Lobophora variegata (Brown Wafer Algae)
Ostreobium species





Blood shrimp,

very shy carnivore




sexy shrimp

Carnivore



Electric Orange Hermit Crab (The secret to recongnising them its the blue eyes, contrasting the orange legs.)

Omnivore
Potential Controller Of:


Chaetomorpha crassa
Chaetomorpha aerea
Polysiphonia elongata
Enteromorpha prolifera
Enteromorpha linza
Enteromorpha intestinalis
Enteromorpha compressa



Brittle Sea Star, Fancy (Ophiure protoreaster)

Detritus


Cerith/Tower Snails

(algae; Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating)




Fuzzy Chiton

herbivore




cleaner shrimp (carnivore)

Super Tongan Nassarius Snail

(detritus)






Neopetrolisthes ohshimai anemone crab.

Filter feeder




Brittle Sea Star, Fancy
(Ophiure protoreaster)(detritus, omnivore)

Fighting Conch; 1 for every 50 Gallons otherwise they starve, best sand churner, longest life spand , eats the most variety of algae of any snails.(stays on sand, doesn't climb glass)

(algae ; Potential Controller Of:


Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Oscillatoria sp. 2
Oscillatoria sp. 1
Cladophoropsis species 2
Cladophoropsis species 1
Acetabularia crennulata (Mermaids Cup/Mermaid Wine Glass Alga)
Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating
Chlorodesmis species (Turtle Weed)




Banded Trochus Snail ;Trochus niloticus

Potential Controller Of:

Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Ostreobium species
Cladophoropsis species 2
Cladophoropsis species 1
Bryopsis species
Bryopsis plumosa
Acetabularia crennulata (Mermaids Cup/Mermaid Wine Glass Alga)
Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating




Long-spined Urchin (Algae) Best left for big tanks 100 Gallons + eats enormous amount of algae will destroy small tank scape looking for food because it'll stave, need dried seaweeds best left for huge tanks. I know so i have 3. Biggest algae eater bar none of any inverts.

Potential Controller Of:

Ulva rigida (Sea Lettuce)
Ulva lactuca
Bryopsis species
Bryopsis plumosa
Cladophora rupestris
Cladophora prolifera
Cladophora laetevirens
Dictyosphaeria cavernosa (Green Bubble Weed)
Valonia macrophysa
Valonia utricularis 2
Valonia utricularis 1
Boodlea species
Ostreobium species
Valoniopsis pachynema
Acetabularia crennulata (Mermaids Cup/Mermaid Wine Glass Alga)
Fucus vesiculosus 2
Fucus vesiculosus 1
Fucus spiralis
Cladophoropsis species 2
Cladophoropsis species 1
Ventricaria ventricosa
Chaetomorpha crassa
Chaetomorpha aerea
Sargassum vulgare
Sargassum sinicola
Sargassum natans
Sargassum johnstoni
Sargassum hystrix
Sargassum fluitans
Lobophora variegata 1
Laminaria species
Enteromorpha prolifera
Enteromorpha linza
Enteromorpha intestinalis
Enteromorpha compressa
Hypnea musciformis
Hypnea cervicornis
Wrangelia argus
Dictyota linearis
Dictyota dichotoma (Brown Fan Weed or Divided Net Weed)
Dictyota bartayresii
Polysiphonia elongata
Chlorodesmis species (Turtle Weed)
Centroceras clavulatum
Derbesia marina (hair algae)
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1


Mespilia globulus (Blue Tuxedo Urchin) Best after the long spine, one for every 50 gallons otherwise will starve.(Tip; always leave a panel unclean for it to eat)

Potential Controller Of:


Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Boodlea species
Ostreobium species
Cladophoropsis species 2
Cladophoropsis species 1
Chaetomorpha crassa
Chaetomorpha aerea
Cladophora rupestris
Cladophora prolifera
Cladophora laetevirens
Chlorodesmis species (Turtle Weed)
Acetabularia crennulata (Mermaids Cup/Mermaid Wine Glass Alga)
Valoniopsis pachynema
Bryopsis species
Bryopsis plumosa
Enteromorpha prolifera
Enteromorpha linza
Enteromorpha intestinalis
Enteromorpha compressa
Ulva rigida (Sea Lettuce)
Ulva lactuca


Elysia diomedea (Mexican Lettuce Slug) Very fragile too fragile prey to many fishes, good luck. Never put with wrasses...

Potential Controller Of:
Bryopsis species
Bryopsis plumosa
Chaetomorpha crassa
Chaetomorpha aerea
Enteromorpha prolifera
Enteromorpha linza
Enteromorpha intestinalis
Enteromorpha compressa
Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Cladophora rupestris
Cladophora prolifera
Cladophora laetevirens




Cerith/Tower Snails

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(algae; Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating)




Emerald crab Mithrax sculptus

Potential Controller Of:


Dictyota linearis
Dictyota dichotoma
Dictyota bartayresii
Dictyosphaeria cavernosa (Green Bubble Weed)
Ventricaria ventricosa
Cladophora rupestris
Cladophora prolifera
Cladophora laetevirens
Valoniopsis pachynema
Bryopsis species
Bryopsis plumosa
Valonia macrophysa
Valonia utricularis 2
Valonia utricularis 1


Porcelain Crab (Petrolisthes galathinus)

Filter feeder


Sea Cucumber, Tiger Tail Halathuria hilla

Detritus eater and spit clean sand.




Red starfish (Fromia milleporella)

micro-organisms and detritus, It feeds on a thin layers of algae,


Detritus, micro organism


I write big for my iphone friends







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[basile]

Clean up crew part 2

Species Name: Pusiostoma (Engina) mendicaria


Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)


Common Name: Bumble Bee Snail


Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean: Japan, and east to Marshall Islands


Natural Environment: Intertidal zones


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 68 to 83°F (28.33°C) (20 - 28°C). Anthony Calfo and Bob Fenner in their book "Reef Invertebrates, An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility" express an opinion that these snails do not serve much useful purpose in reef aquariums, and they are physically unable to eat algae. They go further to say they are predatory snails feeding upon worms and possibly other desirable fauna. Personally, I see little value except for a nice looking small snail that might be interesting to watch.



Babylonia zeylanica ,areolata or Brown Blotch, Babylonia sometime associated with nassarius. No relation what so ever with that family, totally bogus.

While some are claiming algae eaters others say predatorial even killer. Either they never sat infront of a tank before and observed it or they just repeate the same nonesense of the others.

It is IMO the best detritus eater ever built. Its tough , long lasting, mine are a full inch long after 11 months. It's one of the best sand churner you can have, it will eat dead meat , one reason its been declared a killer, but thats because its a scavenger. However like any starving CUC and many people forget about their's, they may resort to open killing if not fed properly. i personnaly dump a feeding ring once a week. You can see them run for it; if that's an algae eater........really. Its a detritus scavenger and you'll have one of the best kept sand. For my 150 G i have only 15, thats 1 for every 10 gallons.





Species Name: Cypraea tigris


Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)


Common Name: Tiger Cowry

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean/Red Sea/Great Barrier Reef/Hawaii


Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow reef areas


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 72 to 80°F (26.67°C) (22 - 27°C). Feeds upon small invertebrates and algae. Grows to about 6 inches (15 cm) and will scavenge for food, but may topple aquarium décor. Mine also eat sponges but never killed them just nibble at them a bit. It'll eat and stay put for a week before it moves again. avery good algae eater. But will eat some small part of your sponges.





Species Name: Turbo fluctuosus


Authority: Wood, 1828


Common Name: Mexican Turbo/Turban/Chevron Snail

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean and Western Atlantic Ocean: Sea of Cortez, Gulf of Mexico south to Peru


Potential Controller Of:
Derbesia marina
Derbesia species 2
Derbesia species 1
Ostreobium species
Padina pavonica
Padina australis
Padina species
Lobophora variegata (Brown Wafer Algae)
Oscillatoria sp. 2
Oscillatoria sp. 1
Diatoms Stringy Growth
Diatom Coating
Asparagopsis taxiformis



If you want then to survive don't put too many these are more nocturnal by the way, like the tronchus .So both are in competition. However i found that my turbo stay more on the rocks and the tronchus go on the glass, that my observation at night. During the day both are pretty still.



Stomatella snail

We all come accross it eventually, we don't buy it. This is half snail,half slug , its a herbivore will eat algaes in your tank and become food for some fish, crabs, shrimps, etc and it multiplies easely. So you can get rid of some if you want but its a good nuisance algae eater and a remover of nitrates really.



Species Name: Astropecten polycanthus


Authority: Muller & Troschel, 1842


Common Name: Sand Sifting Starfish

Range: Indo-Pacific Ocean


Natural Environment: Inhabits the upper level of sand in protected lagoons


General Husbandry: Has a temperature range of 75 to 82°F (27.78°C) (24 - 28°C). About 5 inches, (12.5 cm) tip-to-tip and a predator of other buried invertebrate. Will turn over the sandbed, however, will eat all valuable sandbed invertebrate and microfauna leaving the sand sterile! Its a species I would never again place in my reef aquariums!
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[gidenski]

Excellent write up! I was specifically looking for some CUC members that would take care of sand and stay off my scape!

 

[Satyr]

Really helpful guide answered some questions I had.

 

[Ebrown79]

Thanks for the excellent guide. This is the third month since I started my tank. I recently purchased a sand sifting star fish with other clean up crew. Since reading your list, I am wondering if I should get rid of it now or wait till I begin adding corals. I have a 55gallon tank.

 

[CarolinaReefs]

Very good post. Thanks for the info.